On Earth Day, UNICEF is urging governments to provide every child with educational opportunities to become champions for the planet. In 2023 alone, millions of people were displaced or killed by extreme weather events. Women and girls in climate-sensitive areas suffer disproportionately from the impacts of climate change, pushing more girls out of school and putting them at greater risk of child marriage, violence and exploitation.

Climate-related disasters disrupt the education of 40 million children every year, leaving marginalized young people without the skills they need to adapt to the new realities of climate change. It’s time to act. Join us in fighting for the planet every day and creating a brighter, more sustainable future for all. (Ingrid Sanchez Tapia, unicef.org)